The cost:
This is Mykhailo Spitsyn. He was ten. His mother, Svitlana, was killed beside him when a russian drone hit their house in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Oblast.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 10:05 AM
I’m running out of new words, because russia isn’t running out of violence. The only thing that changes is how easily the world absorbs it — another mother, another child, folded into the background noise of a long war.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Vladyslav Heraskevych, who wore a helmet with photos of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia’s war, says the IOC has banned him from using it during official training sessions and competitions.
Please listen to his words!
“The world must know the price of freedom.”
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Given recent Russian statements, it seems reasonable to conclude that Trump agreed to give Putin Donetsk Oblast if not all of the Donbas at least:
Lavrov blames the US for the lack of a peace deal on Ukraine.
So let me guess: in Anchorage, Trump must have promised Moscow the quiet handover of the entire Donetsk region without fighting.
They just forgot to ask Ukraine what we think about surrendering territory we actually control.
— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 10:59 AM
There’s a growing sense that even the participants of the so-called “understanding reached in Anchorage” aren’t entirely sure what, exactly, it is they’re talking about.
— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 10:59 AM
We are outraged that US has backed out of deal to give Russia land we can’t conquer and isn’t America’s to give away.
A blow against anti imperialism.
— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 6:51 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the Trump administration of refusing to implement alleged Russia–U.S. agreements on Ukraine and pursuing a policy of “economic domination,” in comments to Russian-registered TV BRICS published on Feb. 9.
The remarks mark a sharper turn in Moscow’s rhetoric toward Washington, with Lavrov claiming the U.S. has backtracked on what he described as “Anchorage agreements” allegedly reached in 2025 that envisioned Ukraine surrendering the entire Donbas region to Russia without fighting.
“They tell us that the Ukrainian issue needs to be resolved. In Anchorage, we accepted the proposal of the U.S.,” Lavrov said. “They made an offer, we agreed, and the problem should have been resolved. It seems that they proposed it and we were ready — and now they are not.”
The White House has not confirmed the existence of any such agreements, and earlier declined to acknowledge them in comments to the Kyiv Independent.
Lavrov said that despite declarations about moving toward “full-scale, broad cooperation,” Washington continues to pursue what he described as an anti-Russian policy. He pointed to new sanctions and Western actions against Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers as evidence.
“In practice, everything looks the opposite: new sanctions are being introduced, and a war against (shadow fleet) tankers is being waged on the high seas,” the minister said.
Russia has long demanded that Ukrainian forces withdraw from Donbas and has increasingly tied any future peace deal to such a move after more than a decade of fighting in the region.
Ukraine has ruled out a withdrawal, though Ukrainian officials have said alternative arrangements, including a demilitarized zone, could be considered.
While we have to wait for further reporting to clarify what was and was not offered and/or accepted, this seems extremely plausible given what we know about Trump and his lack of acumen as a negotiator, as well as his self selected submissiveness to Putin.
OTD in 1990 James Baker said they would “think about NATO expansion”. *Not* that they promised none would happen. It’s why later that year in Malta President Bush that the US would not accept limits on anyone’s sovereignty.
But facts are imperialist.
— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
There Will Be Significant International Events This Week – on Defense and Security. In Europe, Our Position Will Be Sufficiently Represented, and the Same Applies to the United States – Address by the President
9 February 2026 – 20:47
I wish you health!
Briefly about today. Energy is the top priority – this is fully understood across the state. Significant resources are engaged in all regions, and we are further increasing them: expanding the number of crews and strengthening support programs for people and for entrepreneurs.
Today, we spoke with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. The Government will make the procurement of new equipment more accessible for apartment buildings, so that homeowners associations can purchase more generators and other equipment that is so crucial amid electricity shortages. The government officials will also expand the support program for owners of private homes to ensure autonomous power supply. These are, in effect, two new programs, and in the near future government officials are to present all details of the programs to the public. As for the programs already in place, reports were also presented today. Applications from sole proprietors are coming in actively for payments that help maintain and repair generators – nearly 20,000 such applications have already been submitted. The zero-percent loan program for purchasing generators has already reached half a billion hryvnias and will continue to grow – sufficient funds are available within the program. Today, I also instructed that the Warmth Packages program be additionally scaled up – so that 40,000 packages are delivered this week. The program will continue operating. I thank Naftogaz for its support of this program.
I would also like to commend Ukrzaliznytsia – all of its specialists. The conditions are extraordinarily difficult. Russian strikes are hitting our logistics virtually every day – targeting facilities that support rail operations and the rolling stock itself. Many routes are dangerous, but our railway continues to operate.
I thank the first responders of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine for their real effectiveness. Every day, they work at energy facilities, extinguish fires, and help people and communities get through this difficult time. The results achieved by everyone currently involved in dealing with the aftermath of the strikes and in recovery efforts benefit all of Ukraine and contribute to the strength of our state and to Ukrainians’ ability to endure this winter and the war as a whole.
There was a discussion with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, with our diplomats, and with members of the negotiating team. Everyone in our country needs to be more active so that now, in February, there is not a single day wasted in strengthening Ukraine and advancing our ability to end the war in a dignified and reliable way. An important result has now been achieved on Starlink – I would like to thank the Minister of Defense; this is one of the significant changes. We also need to finalize all issues related to supplying the army, including predictable and sufficient supplies of drones and other equipment to the troops.
There will be significant international events this week – on defense and security. In Europe, our position will be sufficiently represented, and the same applies to the United States. In practice, our negotiating team is working every single day on the documents and proposals that could deliver results at the upcoming meetings. Most importantly, our partners must be aligned the same way we are in Ukraine: peace is needed, and reliable security guarantees are the only real foundation for peace and for preventing the Russians from breaking agreements through strikes or hybrid operation of some kind.
There are no countries left in Europe that do not know what Russian interference is and what Russian destabilization operations can look like. Everyone also sees what Russian murderers, Russian missiles, and Russian drones are doing. Protection from this and ensuring security must be tangible and lay the groundwork for a lasting peace. The documents on guarantees are ready. There is no alternative to security. There is no alternative to peace. There is no alternative to rebuilding our country. I thank everyone around the world who is helping! Thank you for every single action in support of life and people right now.
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Some Georgian protesters actually took to Yerevan amid JD Vance’s Armenia visit to pass on Georgia’s democratic resistance message.
“Russia’s Georgia is a threat for TRIPP.”
“Stand with 🇬🇪 and adopt the MEGOBARI Act!”
📷 ProtestSHE
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 10:36 AM
JD Vance is visiting Armenia and Azerbaijan, but skipping Georgia, once a key US ally. After GD attacked the US ambassador, passed repressive laws, crushed protests, and pivoted toward Russia, ties collapsed. The US froze the partnership (Nov 30, 2024) and sanctioned Bidzina Ivanishvili (Dec 27).
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 1:36 PM
“Foreign funding” is also remittances, which only gets a verbal / interpretation-based exemption from the regime “as long as the funds are not used for political purposes.”
1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 8:15 AM
So, if your emigrant mother working hard taking care of the elderly in Italy sends you some grocery money and you post something anti-regime, you could both go to jail, yes.
Hopefully, other countries won’t extradite people over this. Sounds an insane precaution, but this is the case.
2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 8:15 AM
www.hrw.org/news/2026/02…
3/3.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 8:15 AM
1/ Nika Melia, co-chair of the Ahali party, has been charged in a fourth criminal case within the past year.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
2/ The new charge accuses him of showing disrespect to a judge during an administrative court session on 10 November 2025, while he is already serving prison sentences.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
3/ The alleged offence carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine, or corrective work.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
4/ Melia’s lawyer, Giorgi Kondakhishvili, told TV Pirveli that Melia does not take this case seriously, insisting that he did not insult the judge.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
5/ Melia is currently serving two sentences: 1.5 years for an incident involving throwing water at a judge (26 November 2025), and 8 months for failing to appear before the GD’s parliamentary investigative commission in June. He also faces charges in a so-called sabotage case.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
McCain Institute’s @laurathornton.bsky.social will speak this Wednesday, February 11, at 2 p.m. with The Helsinki Commission to examine the deteriorating human rights situation in Georgia, Georgian Dream’s tactics to punish & demoralize dissenters, & paths forward: www.youtube.com/live/Xl3GZRt…
— McCain Institute (@mccaininstitute.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
It was September 2022 when my team at party Droa published an OSINT book on how the Georgian Dream helped Russia evade sanctions.
Back then, even for anti-GD people it seemed like an overstretched or at least something that will never yield to any serious international attention / results.
1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:29 PM
My party leader Helen Khoshtaria alongside several other democratic leaders face further prosecution over advocating for targeted sanctions against the regime (over Russia sanctions evasion and gross human rights violations).
2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:29 PM
And now we learn that a Georgian port, Kulevi, is under a risk of EU sanctions due to Russian oil sanctions evasion.
Even if it doesn’t pass through this time, the suggestion alone is a whole new layer of process…
3/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:29 PM
I want the best for my country, and it’s precisely for that reason why the cancer must be diagnosed and cut out before it flushes down all of us and our millennia-long history down the Russian public toilet.
4/4.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Even Georgian Dream supporters are increasingly unhappy and concerned about where we are headed.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 6:41 AM
The EU:
‼️🇪🇺 EU plans to impose sanctions against third-country ports serving Russia’s “shadow fleet” for the first time — Sky News
The 20th package of EU sanctions includes the ports of Kulevi in Georgia and Karimun in Indonesia. There are also proposals to add banks from Laos, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
— Savchenko Volodymyr (@savchenkoua.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
India:
🛑New Indian purchases of Russian oil have stopped.
With the new US-India trade deal, major Indian refiners are now finding other sources.
India previously bought 70-80% of ALL Urals oil shipped. Expect production to start dropping rapidly for lack of Urals oil buyers.📉💥
— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Hungary:
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s remarks about the possible deployment of Alliance troops in Ukraine. According to Orbán, such statements are “madness” and, in his view, bring Europe closer to war.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:41 AM
France:
French authorities have just taken down hundreds of Russian disinformation websites aimed at sowing division and installing far-right candidates in the coming elections.
Most of these sites were imitations of popular and trusted news outlets, populated with Ai content.
— SPRAVDI – Stratcom Centre (@stratcomcentre.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 4:45 AM
The US:
Trump, in the middle of his latest unhinged Truth Social screed, claims that if Canada makes a trade deal with China, “the first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.”
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) February 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM
They’re eating the French Canadian goalies! They’re eating the Swedish forwards!
This diagram is in Polish, but fairly easy to understand.
The upper section is U.S. assistance for Ukraine during the Biden and Trump admin
The lower is russian drone and missile attacks during the same time frame
Tell me more about how Trump’s negotiations are working.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:06 AM
From RBC Ukraine:
Due to a critical shortage of Pac-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, Ukrainian launchers were left empty last month, unable to counter ballistic strikes on energy infrastructure, according to a Financial Times report and an interview with Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
Colonel Yurii Ihnat said Ukraine’s air defense faces serious challenges when ammunition runs out faster than supplies from partners arrive.
“Some air defense systems sometimes stand empty while attacks still need to be repelled,” he noted, highlighting the difficulty for the country’s air defenders.
According to the FT report, the shortage reached a point last month where Patriot systems could not respond while Russian ballistic missiles struck Ukrainian power plants unimpeded.
Since the start of 2026, Russian forces have already carried out 217 attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector.
The Kremlin’s main goal remains to freeze the country and pressure its leadership into capitulation.
Despite frequent outages and a strained energy system, surveys from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology indicate that these attacks have not shaken Ukrainian resolve or created a widespread demand for concessions to Russia.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged Western allies to speed up the delivery of air defense systems and missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that delays in weapons deliveries directly impact the protection of critical infrastructure under constant ballistic threat.
He noted that while Ukraine’s Defense Forces have significantly strengthened protection against Russian drones, the current level of defense remains insufficient, especially at key and most vulnerable locations.
More at the link.
Back to Ukraine.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh claimed victory at the World Athletics Gold Indoor Tour stage in Karlsruhe, clearing 2.01 meters!
Our Queen can fly! 🪽
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:57 AM
The reason:
This is what Ukraine is fighting for.
📹 darinka_la/TikTok
— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Strikes by FP-2 guided drones with 100kg warheads on Russian targets, as well as rare footage of the FP-2 launch at the opening seconds.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Russian media report that Ukraine’s Defense Forces have eliminated Aik Gasparyan, the commander of the “ArBat” special forces battalion. During his lifetime, Gasparyan received the “For Courage” medal from Putin.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Fighters of the 412th SBS Brigade “NEMESIS” destroyed nine enemy multiple launch rocket systems, including the rare North Korean M1991 and two TOS-1A “Solntsepyok” systems. Video footage of the operations from January.
t.me/usf_army— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Looks like LTG Budanov’s merry band of mischief makers was able to infiltrate the GRU’s notorious wetwork unit.
1/3
Ukrainian intelligence penetration of Russia’s military apparatus is deeper than many assumed. HUR obtained medical records of GRU Unit 29155 commander Andrey Averyanov. Including a prostate exam. That’s not symbolism. That’s access— Lewi Whalberg (@anno1540.bsky.social) February 7, 2026 at 2:03 AM
2/3
The GRU is Russia’s military intelligence service: sabotage, assassinations, covert war abroad. Unit 29155 is tied to poisonings, coups, and deniable violence across Europe. It’s meant to be sealed, paranoid, untouchable.— Lewi Whalberg (@anno1540.bsky.social) February 7, 2026 at 2:03 AM
3/3
HUR is Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate. Since 2022, it has shown precision HUMINT, cyber reach, and deep Russian penetration. This episode illustrates asymmetric advantage: Ukraine sees inside systems Russia believed opaque.
Link: archive.ph/ThA7X— Lewi Whalberg (@anno1540.bsky.social) February 7, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Sumy:
This is how russia attacked Sumy today: a Gerbera drone releasing an FPV drone mid-air over the city.
This expands the scale of attacks and multiplies the danger — layered drones, harder to detect, harder to escape. A deliberate escalation against civilians.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:51 AM
In Konotop, Sumy region, Russian drone attacked a locomotive that was supposed to be coupled to a passenger train.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Kharkiv:
Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Oblast:
In Kharkiv Oblast, a russian drone strike killed a woman and her 10-year-old son.
Russia attacked the residential area of Bohodukhiv with drones. One of them hit a family home, destroying it completely.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Video of a russian drone striking a house last night in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv region. 😨
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Kharkiv:
Kharkiv has moved *some* schools underground. It is good that we now have 8 of them, but it is very important to understand that for a city as large as Kharkiv, 8 schools are just a drop in the ocean. Most children here have been studying online for 4 years.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Our children are also under constant threat, living under russian drones and missiles attack. Russia kills them. This is a memorial in Kharkiv dedicated to the “little angels who will never grow up.” Those are their names on the cubes.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Kyiv:
Swans and ducks have settled on the unfrozen part of the Dnipro River in Kyiv 🦢🦆
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Odesa:
Autonomous anti-aircraft turret installed on a pickup intercepts Russian air target near Odesa.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 4:15 AM
This is the kind of night Odesa went through today. The city was attacked by approximately 15 Shahed drones simultaneously.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Russia occupied Crimea:
The story of one of the riskiest and most classified HUR special operations in occupied Crimea in 2016: a deep raid behind enemy lines, where the Russians considered themselves untouchable. Planned and led by Kyrylo Budanov.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnJ…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Russia:
😎
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Bloomberg reports that Russia’s oil production fell for the second month in a row in January due to difficulties selling oil under U.S. sanctions. Sources say Russia produced an average of 9.28 million barrels per day.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article…
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM
This figure is 46,000 barrels per day lower than the already reduced level in December and nearly 300,000 barrels per day below what Russia is allowed to produce under the OPEC+ agreement.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Rostov and Kursk Oblasts, Russia:
The General Staff reported that Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a UAV storage facility in Russia’s Rostov region, where approximately 6,000 FPV drones were destroyed.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 9:39 AM
In addition, a command post of Russia’s airborne troops was hit in the Kursk region, and an ammunition depot belonging to Russian forces was struck in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 9:39 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
In Kropyvnytskyi, animal welfare volunteers are setting up “Points of Invincibility” for homeless animals so they can survive the freezing temperatures.
📹 Radio Liberty
— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) February 8, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Open thread!
piratedan
typical Trump, giving what he hasn’t got. I think Ukraine will make the call as to what type of peace will be fashioned.
Adam L Silverman
@piratedan: Yep.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
Governor of Canada, 51st State, Canada owes, “not a real country”, funding and supporting Alberta Separatist’s and various Nazi’s country wide, etc.
yeah, clean up your act for 5 generations and we might forgive you.
But threatening our Hockey.
Unforgivable, ever.
Jay
nitter.poast.org/Osinttechnical/status/2020935049797841053#m
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
Thank you Adam.
Slava Ukraini.
wjca
Gosh, Trump failing to live up to an agreement; failing to deliver on a commitment. What a shock! One can certainly see how Putin might feel exceptionally ill done by.
/s
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: @Jay: @AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team: You’re welcome.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
bjacques
Thanks as always, Adam. Lavrov sounds like his master is expressing buyer’s remorse over a tool that works most of the time but not reliably.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
@Jay: Now he’s threatening to not let the Gordie Howe Bridge open. Even though Canada paid for the whole thing. You can’t make this crap up.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Thank you Adam.